Arched metallic culvert



Sept. 12, 1933. A. FjFlscl-IER 1,926,843

ARCHED METALLIC CULVERT Filed July 13 1951 "Hmmmn "llllllllllrm H Patented Sept.` 12, 1933 UNITED. STATES -ILllaalrsN'r former.

1,926,843 ARCHED METALHC cULvEn'r .Albert F. Fischer, Mason City, Iowa Application' July 13,1931.. saranno. 550,540

I 1 Claim.` (Cl. 137-75) The object of this yinvention is to provide an improved construction for a metallic; culvert of arched or substantially `semi-cylindrical section whereby capacity is provided for a comparatively large iiow of water as compared with the capacity of theusual typeV of circular or cylindrical culvert employing asimilar amountof material. Y

A further objectof the invention is to provide an improved metallic culvert employing a unitary iianged base frame and arched metallic shcetsset loosely or removably in the base'frame in such manner that the tendency ofthe sheets to spread laterally is resisted ,by the vflanges thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved arched metallic culvertV which is characterized by economy of cost for material and installation, which provides capacity for a large flow ofV water in proportion tothe amount of material employed, and so arranged Vthat the arch may be readily taken up for removing debris, rash and other accumulations from'the waterway without disturbing the frame work.

With these and other objects in View my in-l vention consists'inthe construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts o1 my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, andY illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one form of my improved metallic culvert.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section illustrating a modied form including'the use of floor plates between the base frame and arch.

Figure 4 is a cross r,section of a further modify .40, ed form in which the base` frame is formed integrally with floor plates. Y

My invention in all of its embodiments `involves the use of a unitary structural base frame adapted to be constructed and laid horizontally ina trench or other location for the culvert, the base frame being formed with upturned flanges at its side margins within which archedmetallic sheets are placed, the flanges of the base frame serving to take the thrust of thearch and to resistthe sheets.l The arch is preferably formed of corrugated metal sheets which may be set loosely in the flanged base frameor at any rate are removably mounted on the base frame to permit them 551 to be taken up at times for cleaning the water-k `the sills 10 and 11.

tendency toward lateral 'spreadilfig 0f the archedV Ymargins to the sins 10 and 12 by means of bolts way and removing accumulations of debris, trash,

' sand or mud.

In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 the base frame is composed of a pairv of spaced angle iron sills land 12 which face toward each other, or 60 in other, words are arranged with their vertical anges extending upwardly and on the outer sides of the horizontal flanges whereby a flanged seat for thearch is provided. The, sills 10 and 12 are mountedY on and iixed tol a plurality of kcross bars 14 which also are preferably composed of angle irons and are arranged with their horizontal flanges engaging the lower faces of the hori- Y zontal flanges of the sills. and secured thereto by rivets 16. `The vertical anges of the cross bars 14 extend'downwardly and have the function of engaging the earth upon which the culvert is placed, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the base frame.

The archV of the culvert is composed of one or more metallic sheets 1S preferably corrugated transversely as shown. The sheets 18 may be mechanically shaped to the desired curvature to form an arch of substantially semi-cylindrical .cross section or somewhat less, or they may be 0 bent transversely at the time of placing them in the base frame and be held against their tendency to spread laterally by the engagement of their lateral sides with the upstanding flanges of In any event the thrust on the arch because of the weight of superposed earth on the culvert is carried by the flanged side sills of the base frame.

In the event that a plurality of sheets 18 are employed in a single culvert, the sheets may overlap slightly at their ends to form lap joints 2G.

In the form shown in Figure 3 the base frame and arch are composed of members like those previously described in connection with Figures 1 and4 2. The only difference in the culvert construction illustrated in Figure 3 is that a oor plate 22 is provided for the culvert. The floor plate 22 may be composed of a metallic sheet or a series of sheets carried by the base frame and preferably mounted on the cross bars 14 below the sills 10 and 12 and conjunctively secured thereto by rivets'l. l

As illustrated in Figure 3 the arched culvert sheets 18 may be removably secured at their side 'may be employed in any of the embodiments of my invention, but that ordinarily it is not necessary to employ such securing means.

In the form shown inFigure 4 a floor plate also is employed but it is formed integrally with the sills, or, more accurately speaking, the base plate is formed with upturned ianges at its lside margins to constitute a seat for the arched culvert sheets.

In this form of the device I employ the angle iron cross bars 14 as before and on these cross bars is supported a metallic floor plate 26, se cured to the cross bars by rivets 28. The floor plate 26 is formed at its side margins with upturned anges 30 and 32 which are engaged by the side margins of the arched sheets 34. Figure 4 also illustrates that the arched sheets may be materially atter or of less vertical height than as illustrated for instance in Figure 2, and it will be readily understood that Various modications in this respect may be employed to suit various conditions.

There is a considerable advantage so far las economy of material is concerned in making a culvert of semi-cylindrical or arched formation as compared with a truly cylindrical structure or multiple structure of the same capacity and utilizing the same head room. f

My method of supporting the arched culvert sheets by means of a flanged base frame is highly advantageous because it greatly reduces the amount of labor required forrinstallation and furthermore it provides an .efficient and inexpensive means for supporting the arch. The base frame is a unitary construction and may be built in the factory to the required dimensions and may then be easily and quickly set in place at the desired location after Which the arched sheets can be easily and quickly put in place so that all parts of the culvert are held in the desired positions.

It should also be noted that by setting the arch loosely in the ilanged base frame or by attaching it removably by means of the bolts 24, it is a comparatively easy matter to remove the arch upon occasion for cleaning the waterway of aocumulations of debris, sand or mud Without disturbing the base frame in any Way. This feature is especially desirable where a Wide Waterway with low head room is required for city and town drainage purposes.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device Without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included Within their scope.

I claim as my invention:-

An arched metallic culvert structure comprising a fabricated unitary base frame composed of a pair of spaced side sills having upstanding flanges at their outer margins, a plurality of spaced bars secured at suitably selected'intervals to the sills and rigidly connecting the same, said cross bars `having downturned flanges for gripping the ground and for reenforcing the base frame, and an arch composed of one or more metal sheets superposed on the base frame and having their side margins disposed against the upturned flanges of said sills which thereby receive the thrust of load on said sheets and serve to retain the sheets in arched position.

ALBERT F. FISCHER. 

